Inking means for printing mechanism



6 Sheets-Sheet 1 ses T. M. AVERY ET AL INKING MEANS FORv PRINTING MECHANISM original Filed May 26, 19:50

Jan. 30, 1934.

Y A R @Ef/ .WS Y IVW..- x E bw m. @w Z i E .N o NNiN/N MM m Y/N YS u.. m l i M fl hm {Il}IIINIIIL mrmwa -RV IIJ 21:1- Il.- Y l||||| IIIE lfrilllnllllillllrrl NVM@ l 4 mm RSM Y o Nm un mw nu. a S1 nu .0N v hi M mw o :HHH zml, qm O 91 iw. -Vml www, Xt Y .N ,mh @VAR .Jl! .,.k X -..l l l I l l I l l l l l bei ai \N\ mw l Il QN. M mu M L \\GN i R mk l. HH o -v mm. N Vl, l N..-

Jan. 30, 1934. T. M. AVERY Er Al.

INKING MEANS FOR PRINTING( MECHANISM Original Filed May 26, 1930 6 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTORSL ATTORNEY 6 ShveetsfSheet 3 ,uw um. wm i////lmm fk 4% .mmm IW.. fg 4mm. Wm v wm www E mm TWWI vld/ m N) f. GN di@ OM u 1l e im Jan. 30, 1934. T. M. AVERY Er AL.l

INKING MEANS FOR PRINTING MECHANISM Original Filed May 26. 1930 Jan. 30, 1934.

T. M. AVERY ET AL INKING MEANS FOR PRINTING MECHANISM 'original Filed May 2e, 195o eisneets-sneet 4 rz//vfe INVENToRs ATTORNEY Jan. 30, 1934. T. M..AVERY Er A1. l l 1,945,498

INKING M EANS FOR PRINTING MECHANISM Original Filed May 26, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 lll.

ATTORNEY Jan. 30, 1934. T. M. AVERY Er AL 1,945,498

I INKING MEANS FOR RINTING MECHANISM I original Filed Mayas. 1930 s sheets-sheet .6

| z I y .159 BYWT/M ATTORNEY nllm Patented Jan. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i INKING MEANS FOR PRINTING MECHANISM Original application May 26, y1930, Serial No..` 455,919. Divided and this application July 19,. 1932. Serial No. 623,424

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in printing mechanism and more particularly io printing mechanism of the kind shown and described in our prior application Serial No. 455,919,

filed May 26, 1930, now Patent No. 1,904,709 granted April 18, 1933, of which the present application is a division.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide improved means for mounting and 0 driving the inking rolls with respect to the printing rolls of printing mechanism of this kind whereby adjustments of the inking rolls may be accomplished quickly and with facility, and the inking rolls may be thrown out of operation,

according to the number of different color inks being used. v

Another object is to provide novel and improved inking means for the prining rolls embodying ink fountains and inking rolls therein which are capable of being accurately adjusted relatively to the printing rolls to insure uniform application of the proper amount of ink to the printing rolls, means being provided for preventing spilling of ink from the ink fountains due to '.Iie rotative movement of the inking rolls therein so that the machine is capable of operating at high speed, and novel and improved means being provided for feeding ink to the ink fountains whereby the ink is automatically maintained at a predetermined desired level therein.

To these and other ends, the inven ion consists incertain improvements and combinations and arrangements of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the features of novelty being pointed out-particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of printing mechanism embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the printing attachment on an enlarged scale, it being shown partly in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, on a reduced scale, of a ponion of the printing mechanism showing the ink fountain supports in top plan;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View, partly broken away, of one of the ink fountain4 supports;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View on an enlarged scale, taken Aon the line 6--6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view Jthrough the printing mechanism, showing the printing and 53 impression rolls and the inking means therefor;

Fig. 8 is a top plan View of a portion of one of the ink fountain covers;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of a portion of one of the ink fountain covers;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of one of the ink fountains showing the shaft for the ink feeding roll mounted therein;

Fig. 1l represents a vertical section through one of the ink fountains en the line 11--11 of Fig. 10, the cover being shown in position and the shaft for the ink feeding roll being removed;

Fig. 12 represents a section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 13 is a top plan View of the ink feeding device;

Figi. 14 represents a vertical section through' the ink feeding device taken on the line 14-14 of Fig. 13; and f Fig. 15 represents a vertical section through the .ink feeding device taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 13. l

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the different views.

The printing attachment is shown in the accompanying drawings as adapted to be applied Ato a bag making machine of well known construction which receives the paper or bag material in the form of a continuous strip from a roll or other supply and folds the longitudinal edges of the strip inwardly to form a tube which is then cut oii to form bag sections which are folded to close the bottoms thereof, bag making machines of this kind being well known to those skilled in the`art and example thereof being shown and described in U. S. Letters Patents Nos. 1,517,099 and 1,539,624 granted Nov. 26, 1924 and May 26, 1.925 respectively to T. M. Avery, so that detail illustration and description thereof is deemed unnecessary, a shaft l2 driven from the striker shaft or cut-off device of the bag making machine serving to drive the printing attachment in proper timed relationship with the bag making machine to maintain correct registry between the printing impressions produced on the strip and the lengths or portions of the strip which subsequently form the bag sections. The printing mechanism is driven by a shaft 16, which is mounted in bearings 1-7 fixed to the upper part of the frame Aof the machine and connected by gears 18 to the drive shaft 12.'

The printing attachment provided by the present invention is mounted on the main frame 1 of the bag making machine in the path of the strip of paper or material from which the bags are made, so that it will apply printed impressions 'shiftable base plate 27 has a rack. 32

to the strip while the latter feeds continuously into the machine, the printing attachment, or the major portion `thereof including the printing rolls, being shown as mounted movably in the main frame so that it may be withdrawn laterally therefrom as shown in Fig. 3, so that it will be exposed at a side of the machine, thereby rendering the printing attachment 'readily accessible for the changing of printing surfaces on the printing rolls. vIn the construction shown, the printing rolls 22, the inking'rolls' 23 and the ink feeding rolls 24 together with their ink supply fountains 25 and the driving means, for such rolls are carried as a unit on the frame 26 which latter is bolted ornotherwise fixed to a base plate 27 which extends transversely within the relatively fixed upper portion la' of the main frame of the machine so that it may shift laterally into and out of position within said frame, the base plate 27 resting at its longitudinal edges on rollers 28 which are fixed or otherwise mounted on a horizontal shaft 29, the latter being supported in bearings 30 fixed to the outer side of the frame `section la, and the frame section 1a is provided `with cross members 30a which rigidly connect the two sides of the frame section la, these cross members being provided with rails 31 on which the portion of the base plate "27 within the frame rests slidably. Preferably, the under side of the secured thereto and the shaft 29 has a pinion 33 fixed thereon and meshing with the rack; and shaft 29 preferably has suitable means connected thereto for rotating it whereby the base plate carrying the printing mechanism may be easily and quickly removed from the main frameof the machine or returned to operative position therein. Down- Ward tipping of the outer end of the base plate 27 when the latter lis extended laterally from the stationary frame, is prevented by flanges 37 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the cross members 30a of the stationary frame and overhang the longitudinal edges of the base plate, as shown in Figs. 1, l2, and 3.

The framework 26 which carries the printing mechanism as a unit thereon, comprises a pair of end members 38 having bearings in which the different rolls comprising the printing mechanism are mounted. The shafts 39 of the printing rolls are journalled at their ends in bearings 40 which are preferably mounted slidably in guides 41 in the respective end frames 38, compression springsl 412t being mounted at the .inner sides of the bearings and acting to force the bearings and the printing rolls thereon outwardly, set screws 42 carried by removable'caps 42a on the end frame members 38 acting on the bearings 40 and serving as means for adjusting the printing "rolls inwardly and outwardly and of maintaining them in different set adjustments. The shafts 43 of the inking rolls 23 are journalled at their ends in bearings 44 which are preferably slidably mounted in guides 45 formed in the members 38 of the framework so that the inking rolls may be adjusted toward and from the respective printing rolls to bring the peripheries of the inking rolls into proper ink transferring relationship with the printing surfaces onv the printing rolls, springs 46 being preferably mounted at the inner sides of the bearings 44 and acting to yieldingly force 'the inking rolls against the respective printing rolls, and set screws 47 abutting against the erably, the set screws 47 are each carried by. a`

sleeve 48 which is movably mounted in a cap 49 bolted or otherwise fixed to the respective end frame member 38 ascshown in Fig. l2, the sleeve 48 having a flangev50 thereon against which bear eccentric or cam surfaces 51 formed on lthe arms of a fork-shaped lever 52, saidarxns being pivoted to the cap 49 by the pivot screws 53 whereby, when the levers 52Y are swung\ downwardly into the position shown in Fig.' 7, the low portions of the cam surfaces 51 will engage the flange of the sleeve 48 and the springs 46 will then be able to force the inking rollers 23 outwardly and into working contact with the respective printing rolls 22 but when the levers 52 are swung upwardly or into substantially horizontal position, the high portions of the cam surfaces 51 will engage the flangevof the sleeve 48 and said sleeveand the said screw 47 carried thereby will be forced inwardly against the action of the springs 46 and the inking rollers 23 will then be held out of contact withthe frespective printing rolls, The shiftable mountings` for the inking rolls enable either orr both of these rolls to be disengaged from the respective printing roll or rolls as for example when one of the printing rolls 'is not to receive ink or when the machine is standing idle, the disengagement of one or the other of the inking rolls from its respective printing roll while the machine is in operation renderingv the respective;

printing roll inoperative so that no inked irnpression will be produced thereby s'o that printing may be done with one ink or one color when V such is desired, and the disengagement of both inking rolls from the respective printing rolls while the machineis idle avoiding flattening of Athe inkingrolls which are `usually composed ofk the ink fountains 25, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11,`

each of these ink fountains comprising a panlike'receptacle to contain a supply of ink and into which the respective inkfeeding roll 24'dips, and

a cover 56 which is bolted` or otherwise rexnov ably secured` to thevbottom section and has an opening 57 therein through which the ink feed-4 ing roll is exposed so that it may contact with the periphery of the respective inking roll 23, as`

shown in Fig. 7. The ink feeding roll 24 picks up ink from the lower portion' of the ink fountain and transfers the ink to the respective inking roll 23, and in order to prevent the picking up of excess ink by the ink feedingroll 24, a doctor or scraper 58, preferably in the form of a strip of at sheet metal, is bolted or otherwise secured within the ink fountain so that its free edge contacts with the periphery of the ink feeding roll 24 and scrapes or otherwise removes surplus ink therefrom. In order to prevent the escape of ink along the ends of the shaft 54 and'its escape through the bearing 55, disks `59 are fixed on the shaft 54 beyond each end of the ink feeding roll 24, these disks presenting circumferentially extending flanges or edges which will throw any ink'reaching them from the shaft, and in order to prevent ink thrown from the disks 59 from reaching the bearings 55 from the under side of the cover 56, beads 60 are preferably formed on the under side of the cover 56 at the outer sides of the opening 57 to intercept any ink thrown Vagainst the under side of the cover and to conduct such ink along the beads and backinto the ink fountain at opposite sides of the center of the shaft. The cover 56 of each ink fountain is also preferably provided with a lip 61 which underlies the respective inking roll 23 and serves to catch any ink dropping therefrom and to conduct such ink back into the ink fountain, and this lip will also catch any ink. which might be thrown from the p'eripheries of the rollers 23 and 24 or either of them as shown in Fig. 7. The top of the cover 56 is also preferably provided with an upturned lip 62 which extends toward the periphery of the respective inking roll 23, this lip being opposite to the line of contact between the rolls 23 and 24 and serving to catch any excess ink which might be squeezed between these rolls and thus thrown backwardly, spilling and waste of the ink being thereby avoided. The bottom wall of each ink fountain preferably slopes toward the center from the sides and ends thereof, as will be clear from Figs. 7 and 1l, and a trough 63 leads from the lowermost point in the fountain to a conduit 64 to which a pipe 65 is connected, this pipe serving to supply ink to the fountain and also providing a drain through which the ink may be removed from the fountain when the operation of the machine is to be discontinued or a different ink is to be substituted, the sloping surfaces of the bottom of the ink fountain enabling all of the ink to drain completely and by gravity therefrom.

Means is provided for adjusting the ink fountains and the ink feeding rolls 24 to bring them into proper working relation with the respective inking rolls 23. As shown in the present instance, the ink fountains and the ink feeding rolls 24 mounted therein are each supported on and secured by the bolts 66 to the upper side of a bar 67, and each of these bars is slidably mounted on the laterally shiftable base plate 27, and means is provided for shifting the bars 67 to move the ink feeding rolls 24 in directions toward and from the inking rolls 23 to produce the precisely correct pressure between these rolls and for holding said bars in adjusted position, Preferably and as shown in the present instance, screws 68 are provided at the ends of the bars,

each screw havingv flanges or heads 69 at its ends and having a threaded portion between such flanges, one end of the screw having a wrench-receiving head vas shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6. Each end of each bar 67 is reduced in width to provide spaces between the bar and the flanges on the ends of the screw, and the upper side of the bar has a semi-cylindrical or threaded portion 70 formed therein to receive and t the threaded portion of the screw. A clamp 71 is provided to overhang each end of each bar 67, each of these clamps having a foot 72 thereon to bear on the upper surface of the base plate 27 and having a semi-cylindrical or segmental un'- threaded recess 73 which overlies the respective clamp 71 which overlies the screw .68 is clamped frictionally upon the top of the bar 67 by a screw 5 '75,` which extends through the clamp and is secured in the base plate l27, this screw being 1ocated between the screw receiving recess 73 and the foot 72 of the clamp so that tightening of the screw will force the recessed end of the clamp downwardly against the top of the bar 67, and in order to prevent displacement of the clamp about the screw 75 as an axis, doWel pins 76 may be fixed in the clamp and engaged in holes 77 in the -base plate 27. In the construction just described, the screws 68 at the ends of each bar 67 may be rotated in the respective clamps\71 and during such rotation of the screws the latter will be held by the heads or flanges 69 against axial movement relatively to the clamps, and since the clamps are held in fixed positions on the base plate 27 and the screws engage threaded portions in the ends of the bar 67, rotation of the screws will shift the bars 67 transversely of their lengths and the ink fountains and the ink feeding rolls 24 which are carried by bars 67 will be thereby shifted so that the precisely correct pressure between the l inking rolls 23 and the respective ink feeding rolls 24 is produced to insure the proper transfer of ink from the latter rolls to the former rolls, the individual adjusting screws at the ends of each bar enabling the ink feeding rolls to beadjusted angularly as well as bodily relatively to the respective inking rolls.

The impression roll 78 with which the printing rolls 22 coact, is preferably mounted in the stationary upper frame section le, it being held in Working relation with the printing rolls while the printing mechanism is in operation but means is provided for withdrawing the impression roll from such working relation when the printing mechanism is to be withdrawn laterally from the main frame. The impression roll 78 is mounted to revolve substantially free of friction on its supporting shaft 79, the impression roll being driven at the same peripheral speed as that of the printing rolls, as by the gear 78'al fixed to one end of the impression roll and the cooperating gear 39a fixed to the shaft 39 carrying one of the printing rolls 22. these gears having pitch diameters equal to the diameters of the impression and printing rolls respectively and insuring 'accurate registration of the impressions made by the two printing rolls. Each end of the shaft 79 is flattened at its opposite sides, as indicated at 81 to fit vertically in a guide 82 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the stationary frame portion la. A spring 83 is supported in the bottom of each guide 82, these springs being of sufficient strength to normally support the impression roll in a raised` position out of contact with the printing rolls. A plunger 84 is mounted to reciprocate in the upper portion of each guide 82 and to bear on the upper side of the respective end of the shaft. 79. and these plungers are simultaneously operated by a shaft '85 which is journalled in bearings fixed to the top of the stationary frame lportion 1a so that the plungers will force both ends of the impression roll shaft downwardly to bring the impression roll into working relationship with the printing rolls or to permit the springs -83 to lift the impression roll out of working relationship with the` printing rolls. The shaft 85 is provided near each end with a recessed or flattened portion at one side thereof into which the plungers willbe forced when such recesses are brought opposite thereto, the remainder of the circumference of the shaft Where it is engaged by the plungers being unrecessed so that they will hold the plungers in lowered position and will thereby maintain the impression roller in working relation with the printing rolls. In order to enable the correct impression pressure to be obtained between the impression roll and the printing rolls, each of the plungers 84 is preferably composed of threaded sections which are relatively rotatable to lengthen o-r shortenv the plungers as may be required, and a Alock nut 87 is provided for holding the sections of each plunger in adjusted relation. The shaft 85 preferably extends beyond a vside of the frame section la and is provided with a portion 88 which is angularly or otherwise formed to receive a suitable operating crank.

The printing rolls and the inking and ink feeding rolls are driven by gearing which insures rotation thereof at equal peripheral speed. The printing rolls shafts 39 have gears 89 fixed thereon, these gears being of equal diameter and having a'pitch diameter equal to the diameter of the printing rolls, and the shafts 43 of the inking rolls have gears 90 xed thereon, these gears being of equal diameter and having a pitch diameter equal to that of the inking rolls, the gears 90 meshing with and being driven from the gears 89 on the respective printing rolls. rIhe shafts 54 of the ink feeding rolls 24 have gears 91 xed thereon lwhich are of equal diameter and have a pitch diameter equal to that of the ink feeding rolls,

` these gears 91 meshing with and being driven `mains idle.

' permits lateral withdrawal of the printing mechfrom the gears 90 of the respective inking rolls. The gears 89, 90 and 91 are preferably located at the inner side of the framework 38, as shown in Fig. 1', and in order to suitably support the end of each ink feeding roll shaft 54, a bearing 92 is preferably provided for this shaft, engaging the same adjacent to the gear 91 thereon and being bolted or removably mounted on the upper side of the respective bar 67 as shown in Fig. 1.

Motion is imparted to the printing rolls to drive them and the inking and ink feeding rolls by a gear 93 which is fixed to a main driving shaft 94 which is located'equidistantly from the centers of the printing roll shafts 39, this gear being located on the forward or outer side of the framework 38 and'meshing with a pair of gears 95 of equal size on the printing roll shafts 39. The gears 95 are connected to the respective printing roll shafts by hand wheels 96 each of which is fixed to the end of -the respective printing roll shaft and by bolts or screws 100 which extend through each hand wheel and are threaded or otherwise secured to the respective gear 95.

The main driving gear 93 is preferably providedl with a hub,l01 formed with a diametrically extending clutch groove to receive -a clutch tooth which extends' diametrically on thel'rear face of a clutch collar 104, the latter being splined on the shaft 94 so that it may be shifted to engage the clutch groove in the hub Aof the gear 93 as shown in Fig. 3, at which time the gear 93 will be clutched to the main driving shaft 94 or the clutch collar 104 may be shifted in an opposite direction to disengage from the hub 101 at which time the gear 93 will be disconnected from the main driving shaft 94 and the latter may berevolved freely while the printing mechanism re- The main driving shaft 94 for the printing attachment is driven from the shaft 16 'which coni nects it in predetermined timed relation with the bag making machine, and provides means which anim from the main frame of the machine while maintaining the predetermined timed relationship between the printing mechanism and the bag making machine, the shaft 94 being' shown inserted into the end of a sleeve 109 and fixed therein by a transversely pinned collar 1 11 which surrounds the sleeve, and this collar bears against the inner side of a bearing 112 in the respective end member 38 of the shiftable framework 26, the end of the sleeve 109 adjacent to the gear 93 being journalled. in this bearing, and the opposite end of the sleeve 109 being journalled in a bearing 113 in the other end member 38 of theshiftable framework 26.- A shaft 114 is fitted telescopically or slidably Within the end of the sleeve 109 opposite to that carrying the gear 93, this shaft being provided at its rear end with a bevel gear 115 which is fixed thereon and meshes with a cooperating bevel gear 116 which latter is fixed on the shaft 16. The end of the shaft 114 adjacent to the gear 115 is journalled in a bearing 117 which is mounted in fixed position on the stationary section 1a of the main frame. Axial movement of the shaft 114 relatively to the main frame is' preventedby a thrust collar 118 which is fixed on said shaft and bears against the inner end of the bearing 117 as shown in Fig. 3, the hub of the gear 115 bearing against the outer end of said bearing, so that the shaft 114 is held from axial movement while the printing mechanism carrying the sleeve 109 is shifted into and out of the -main frame, and axial movement of the sleeve 109 with the printing mechanism While the shaft 114 is held from axial movement is permitted by the telescopic t between said sleeve and shaft, but means is provided for maintaining the sleeve 109 and shaft 114 in connected or driving relationship at all times, such means consisting preferably of a key 119 (see Fig. 3), fitted into a keyway 120 formed longitudinally in a side of the shaft 114 and slidable endwise therein, this 4key being clamped by a split collar 121 which surrounds the sleeve 109 and abuts against the inner side of the bearing 113, the key extending through a slot in the sleeve 109 and into the key-way 120 in the shaft 114 'so that it forms a driving connection between said sleeve and shaft although permitting relative axial movement between them, the key being held in Aworking position by the split collar 121 and by a screw or bolt 123 which clamps the collar on the sleeve.

The printing surface for each printing roll may be composed of rubber vulcanized on. a strip of tough paper 13B-extended around the major portion of the'circumference of the printing roll, and one side of the circumference of each printing roll is formed with a'slot or opening into which the ends of the type carrying strip 133 are extended. A pair of winding shafts 135 are journalled in the opposite ends or heads of the printing roll within thecircumference of the printing roll, these shafts having slots 136 therein to re- 4ceive the respective ends of the type carrying strip 133, and rotation of these winding shafts will wind the ends of thetype carrying strip upon the respective winding shafts, these shafts being held in wound condition .by any suitable-means. Y

The present invention provides relatively simple and efficient means for feeding ink tothe ink fountains and for maintaining the ink at a predetermined desired level therein. The ink feeding means for eachof vthe ink fountains 25 are preferably of duplicate construction so that a description of one will be sufficient for both. The ink supply pipe 65 which communicates with each ink fountain in the manner hereinbefore described is connected at its outerend to the bottom of a well 157 which is formedin a bracket 158 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the base plate 27 of the machine as shown in Figs. 1, 13. 14 and 15, this Well being preferably provided with a drain cock 159 which communicates with the bottom thereof and serves to remove all ink therefrom when such is desired. It will be seen from Fig. l that the well 157 is located on the same level with the ink holding portion of the respective ink fountain so that the ink in the 'ink fountain will always be on the same level with the ink in the well 157, the pipe 65 providing a constant free communication between the ink fountain and said well. The bracket 158, which is located at a side of the machine, carries a support 160 on which a bottle 161BL or any suitable form of closed-bottom liquid ink supply receptacle may be mounted, it being preferable to employ an ordinary bottle like a milk bottle to contain the liquid ink and to place the open mouth of the bottle on the support 160 with the bottle in inverted position, and a clamp is provided for holding the bottle in position with its mouth against the support 160 and its closed bottom uppermost, this clamp comprising a plate 161 to fit against the bottom of the bottle, it having a semi-circular flange 162 at one side to fit against the bottle and thereby center it, and a yoke 163 serves to draw the plate 161 against the bottom of the bottle and to hold the bottle mouth against the support 160, this yoke engaging the plate 161 at its ends and having a threaded portion 163 intermediately of its ends into which a screw 164 is threaded, the end of the screw engaging a recess 165 in the side of the support 160 opposite to that engaged by the bottle mouth so that tightening of the screw Will draw the bottle mouth firmly against the support 160. The latter is preferably provided with a semi-circular flange 166 at one side of the bottle mouth engaging portion thereof and against which the bottle mouth may be -placed to center the bottle mouth on the support An ink conduit 167 leads at an inclination downwardly from the bottle mouth engaging surface of the support 160 so as to conduct ink from the bottle, and the lower end of this duct communicates with a pipe 168 which extends downwardly into the -ink well 157, this pipe being of such a length that its lower end is level with the ink level to be maintained in the ink fountain. By the arrangement just described, liquid ink will flow from the inverted bottle through the duct 167 and pipe 168 into the well 157 until the ink level rises in the well suniciently to cover the lower end of the pipe 168. While the lower end of this pipe is uncovered by the ink in the well 157, air will enter the lower end of the pipe and flow upwardly through the duct 167 into the bottle, thereby relieving the vacuum in the bottle and permitting ink to ow therefrom into the well 157 and when the ink level in said well is sufficiently high to cover the lower end of the pipe 168, the latter will be sealed against the en! trance of air and the vacuum in the bottle will then stop the further feed of ink therefrom until the ink level in the well 157 has dropped sufficiently to uncover the lower end of the pipe 168, the level of ink in the Well and -in consequence, in the respective ink fountain, being thereby regulated or controlled automatically.

In order to enable the level at which the ink is maintained in the ink fountain to be varied, the support 160 which carries the pipe 168 is carried on a stem 169 which is adjustable vertically in a socket 170 formed on the bracket 158,

this'y socket being preferably in the form of a split clamp having a bolt 171 for contracting it whereby the stem 169 may be released to permit A vertical adjustment thereof and then clamped to hold it in the desired vertically adjusted position. Vertical adjustment of the stem 169 varies the height of Dthe lower end of the pipe 168 in the well 157, thereby controlling the level at which the ink will be maintained in the well.

In order to facilitate the removal of an empty ink bottle or receptacle 161a from the support 160 and to enable another bottle or receptacle containing ink vto be applied to this support without spilling the ink, the support 160 is preferably swiveled so that it may swing about a horizontal axis to bring the bottle either into upright or into inverted position. As shown, the support 160 is formed with a cylindrical yportion 172 which is rotatably tted into a split clamp 173 formed on the upper end of the stem 169, this split clamp having a screw 174 for operating it. By loosening this screw, the cylindrical portion 172 of the support 160 is released by the clamp 173 so that the support 160 and the bottle thereon and the yoke 163 may be rotated about a horizontal axis concentric with the clamp 173, and when the support 160 is swung into a position to bring the bottle 161a into upright position beneath it, the yoke 163 may be manipulated to unclamp and release the bottle and to receive another bottle containing ink, and after the yoke has been tightened to clamp such bottle on the support 160, the latter may be swung through a half revolution to bring the ink containing bottle into inverted position above the support 160, and the bottle will be maintained in such position to feed ink to the well 157 by tightening of the screw 174. In order to prevent the throwing of ink from the lower end of the pipe 168 when the bottle support is swung out of its operative position as shown by the dotted 4lines in Fig. 15, one side of the wall of the well 157 is provided with an upstanding lip 175 which will catch any ink lifted or thrown by the pipe 168 during its upward swing and return such ink to the well. The lower end of the pipe 168 is preferably bevelled as shown so as to facilitate the steady flow of air into the lower end of this pipe into the ink containing bottle as the ink is withdrawn therefrom, thereby insuring a steady or even feed of the ink from the bottle into the well 157.

yIn operating printing mechanism constructed as hereinbefore described, as the bag strip to be printed passes round the impression roll 78, it passes the printing rolls 22 which carry the desired printing surfaces on their peripheries to which ink is applied by the inking rolls 23 which in turn receive ink from the ink feeding rolls.

24 operating in the ink fountains 25, and the printing rolls 22 are so adjusted by the set screws 42 relatively to the impression roll 78 as to apply sufcient pressure between the printing surfaces on the printing rolls and the strip while the latter is backed by the impression roll, the latter being driven at the same peripheral speed as the printing rolls and thereby insuring accurate registration of the impressions made by the printing rolls on the strip. During the running of themachine with the printing attachment in operation, ink is fed to and maintained at a predetermined constant level in the ink fountains 25 by the ink bottles or receptacles 1618L and the tubes 65, through the intermediary of the Wells 157, the tubes 168 then vio dipping into the ink in the respective wells 157 and maintaining the ink at a constant set level therein in the manner hereinbefore described. The provision of two printing rolls and their 'inking means enables each bag length of thel strip to receive printed impressions either entirely in ink of the same color or in inks of different colors, the printing surfaces on the two printing rolls for example forming different portions of the complete impression, but when it is desired to print the bag forming sections of the strip with a single impression or in a single color, one or the other of the printing rolls 22 ma'y be rendered inoperative by backing out its adjusting screws 42, the springs 41 then acting to shift the printing roll to remove its printing surface from contact with the strip and to shift the driving gear 95 on the respective printing roll out of meshwith the driving gear 93 so that the printing roll thus shifted will remain idle and eut of contact with the strip during the operation of the machine. While a printing roll is thus held out of operation, its respective inking roll 23 will also be idle since it is driven from its respective printing roll, and its periphery will. be out of contact with the printing roll due to the shifting of the latter out of operative position. While the printing attachment is idle or inoperative, as when the bag making machine is being operated to make unprinted bags, or during periods when the entire machine is shut down, the levers 52 may beA swung outwardly to` force the inking rolls 23 inwardly, thereby disengaging them from the respective printing rolls 22 and ink feeding rolls 24 and thus avoiding flattening ofthe inking rolls or the ink feeding rolls, which are preferably composed of rubber, by standing idle undery pressure against one another or against the printing rolls.y The printing rolls usedare of such diameter that they'make one revolution,

duringthe passage of each bag section, and theA main drive shaft 94 is connected to the bag vmakingmachineV in such timed relation therewith that it makes one revolution during the passage of each bagsection, the gear 93 on this shaft and thedgears 95 meshing therewith and fixed tothe printing rolls being all of the same diameter, vIn order to adapt the printing attachment for the printing of bag sections of different lengths, printing rolls of larger or smaller diameter may be substituted in which case the gears 93 and 95' will be replaced by others of a correspondingly larger or smaller diameter, the shafts `of the printing rolls of larger or smaller diameter being adjusted by 'set screws 42 to bring the printing surfaces on such rolls vinto proper contact with the strip on the impression roll and to conform with the change in diameter of theconnecting gears, and the inking rolls 23 maybe adjusted to produce the proper amount of pressure againstthe printing surfaces on the printing rolls by manipulation of the. set screws 47, the driving gears 90 for these inking rolls meshing with gears 89 of different diameters on the different printing rolls owing `to the inclined angles at which the shafts of the vprinting rolls? are adjusted to bringprintingrollsv of different diameters into correct working position. The ink fountains 25 andthe ink feeding rolls 24:` carried" thereby may be adjusted by theA screws 68 to bring' the peripheries of the ink feeding rolls into positions to produce the exactly correct pressure between them and the inking rolls 23 to insure the application of-"the correct amount of ink to the printing surfaces on the printing rolls.

The ink feeding means'provided enables the ink to be supplied conveniently from ordinary bottles or similar receptacles to the ink fountains, the swivelled mounting of the bottle or receptacle enabling the same to be readily refilled or replaced by filled bottles without spilling or wasting the'ink, the level of the ink in the ink fountain being maintained automatically and the level of the ink in the ink fountains being easily -varied in the manner hereinbefore described.

The ink supplying means for the ink fountains are preferably mounted on the forward -or outer end of the laterally shiftable base plate carrying the printing mechanism so that the ink supplying means will notonly remain in proper working relationship with-the printing mechanism when the latter is shifted into or out of the frame of the machine but the inking means will always be easily accessible at the outer side of the frame of the lmachine so that the ink receptacles may be y conveniently applied and removed, and the drain cock at the bottom of the well 157 of each ink well, which is at the lowest point in the ink feedioo ing system, enables the' ink to be drained from the ink fountains after completion of a printing operation, and by sloping the Abottom-of each ink fountain from the sides and ends thereof to the passageway through which the ink enters the fountain, draining of the ink completelyfrom each fountain is rendered possible.

We claim as our invention:-

l. Printing mechanism comprising a rotatable printing roll, a, rotatable ink feeding roll, a rotatable inking roll movable into and out of vcooperation with the printing and ink feeding rolls, means for adjusting the ink feeding roll toward and from the inking roll, and means to act on the respective ends of theinking roll for holding the inking roll out of cooperation with the printing and ink feeding rolls.

2. Printing mechanism comprising a printing rbll and means for supplying ink thereto 4including an inking roll, an ink fountain, and an ink feeding roll carried by said fountain and cooperative with the inking roll, a bar on which the ink fountain is mounted, and means at the ends of said bar for adjusting the ink fountain and the ink feeding roll in a direction toward and from the inking roll.

3. Printing mechanism comprising a 'printing roll, and inking meanstherefor including'. an ink fountain and an ink feeding roll therein, said fountain having a bottom the surface of which slopes downwardly from the sides and ends thereof -and a trough extending laterally from the lowermost partof `the bottom to a side of the fountain, and having a conduit leading from said trough along said side of the fountain beneath .the bottom thereof to an end of the fountain for supplying and removing ink. e

4. Ink supply means for printing mechanism comprising an ink supply well, a member for supporting an ink-container having a closed bottom in inverted position, a clamp in which said member is rotatable on a substantially horizontal axis, and means including a pipeextending substantially radially from said member and projecting downwardly into said well for providing fluid communication between' the well and the inkcontainer.

5. Ink supply means for printing mechanism comprising an ink supply well, and a member having means for mounting, an open-mouth inkcontainer thereon, a clamp suporting said member for rotation in a substantially vertical plane relatively to said Well to swing an ink-containar from upright to inverted position, said member carrying a pipe .which is movable into and out of the well by the rotation of said member, and means for supporting said clamp at different heights relatively to the height of said well.

6. Ink supply means flor printing mechanism comprising an ink supply well, and a member having means for supporting an inverted ink-container thereon, a clamp in which said member is rotatable on a substantially horizontal axis, said member having means including a pipe' extending substantially radially therefrom and downwardly into the Well fo-r establishing fluid connection between the well and an inverted inkcontainer on said member, and means for supporting said clamp and member in different vertical positions to maintain the lower end of said pipeat different heights in the well.

7. Ink supply means for printing mechanism -comprising an ink supply Well, a stem adjustable vertically relatively thereto, a support swivelled to rotate on said stem about a substantially horizontal axis, aclamp carried by said support for holding an ink-container thereon with its mouth fitted against said support, the support having a duct therein which communicates with the mouth of an ink-container thereon, anda pipe carried by the support and movable into said Well by the rotation of said support, said pipe being in communication with said duct in the support.

8. Printing mechanism comprising a printing roll and means for supplying ink thereto including an inking roll, an ink fountain, an ink feeding roll carried by said fountain for ysupplying ink to the inking roll, a bar on which the ink fountain is mounted, and means at the ends of said bar for adjusting the ink fountain and the to hold them against axial movement and maintain them in engagement With the respective ends of the bar.

9. Printing mechanism comprising a printing r'oll, an ink feeding roll, an inking roll, guides in whichthe ends of the inking roll arel slidable into and out of cooperation with the printing and ink feeding rolls, springs acting on the ends of the inking roll to move it into cooperation with the printing and ink 'feeding rolls, and means cooperative with each end of the inking roll for shifting the'inking roll out of cooperation with the printing and ink feeding rolls embodying a lever pivoted at an end of the respective'guide and having a cam portion thereon, a pressure memberacted on by said cam portion of said lever and movable longitudinally of the respec tive guide, and a screw adjustably carried by said pressure member and acting on the re spective end of the inking roll.

TRUE M. AVERY. WILLIAM M. SEITZINGER. 

